(AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA)

Dear Mr. President:

On November 10, 2013, I put out a letter asking you, respectfully, to “…Please nip this Achimota Forest development plot being hatched by some people in your Administration in the bud. This Forest must remain a forest. “

It has come to my notice that Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, says that “Contrary to claims in sections of the media that Achimota Forest has been sold to private developer, I am to inform you that the government had taken no such decision”. I must point out that I have not said or written anywhere that your administration has decided to sell the Achimota forest. My suggestion is that the Achimota Forest must remain a green area, a forest and those areas that have suffered from encroachment be reclaimed and turned into a protected forest area.

Alhaji Fuseini gets my attention and reinforces my initial concerns about a so-called Achimota Forest development when he says that “We are convinced that if the Achimota Forest Reserve is developed into a eco-tourism destination such as the Kakum National Park which rolled in 240,000 dollars from 120,000 tourists, it would help provide more benefits for the economy and the city of Accra”. The proposed development plan he is reported to have said would include safari walks, eco-lodges, game viewing points, religious enclaves, cultural village, arboretum, orchards and visitor reception which would be implemented under public/private partnership. Did the Hon. Minister really refer to “safari walks, game viewing points?” Really? In the Achimota Forest?

I was involved in the Kakum Canopy Walkway and related projects – the components of that effort which required the protection of wildlife and the general environment has stalled for want of money and technical/government attention at the highest levels. The Mole National Park with vast lands needs a lot of attention to develop its wildlife and game viewing potentials plus ensuring encroachment from foreign and local people who are destroying valuable species of trees and wildlife with abandon. Similar stories can be told about Bui, Ankassa, etc.

Once again, Mr. President, do not let this happen under your watch. Help save our environment. Green is life. Stop the planned destruction of the Achimota Forest. We are only talking about less than 500 hectares of land in our Capital City that is fast turning into a concrete jungle. Let us save this small green area.

Very truly yours, Papa Kwesi Nduom, November 14, 2013